Automobile attachment.



W. J. EVANS. AUTOMOBILE ATTACHMENT. APFLIOATION FILED SEPT. 2o, 1912.

` W. J. EVANS. AUTOMOBILE ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2o, 1912.

1,073,971 Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM J'. EVANS, OF LINNBURG, IOWA.

- UToMoBrLn ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

Application led September 20, 1912. Serial No. 721,431.

To all whom it may concern '13e it known that I, WILLIAM J. EVANS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Linnburg, in the county ofWebster and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements inAutomobile Attachments, of which the following is a specification. i

ihe invention relates to driving mechanism for motor vehicles and moreparticularly to the class of steering mechanism for automobiles or thelike.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of mechanism ofthis character, wherein the steering wheel of the automo-4 bile, motorvehicle or the like will be osi-` tioned contiguous to the turning axisof the supporting spindle or the turning knuckle thereby enabling thecenter of the wheel toy be nearer to Ithe pivot point of the knuckle, orspindle thus assuring a'shorter revolu`2 tion to the steering mechanism.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism of thischaracter in; which the steerlng Wheel of a motor vehicle or the likewill be turned in the ordinary well known manner and which will enablethesaid wheel to be driven from the motor or other driving power of themachine thereby permitting both the front and rear wheels to be driven.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanismof this character in which the steering Wheel is supported in a novelmanner, whereby the same may be readily and conveniently turned for theguiding of the motor vehicle as Well as peu rnitting the advancement ofthe same.

A. still further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanismof this character Ain which the front steering wheel may be drivenirrespective of the angular disposition thereof and will permit theready and easy turning of the wheel to the desired angular position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanismwhich is simple in construction, strong, thoroughly reliable andefficient in its purpose and inexgiensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and

through the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view i on the line 3-3 of Fig.2. Fig. i is a fragmentary top plan view showing the spindle in shiftedposition. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view thereof.

Similar reference characters indicate corrcspondinnr parts throughoutthe several 4views in die drawings.

Referring to the drawing by numerals designates a portion of a tubularstationary front axle of an automobile, vehicle or the like, and 11 thedriving shaft, the saine being journaled in the axle 1n any preferredmanner. Formed on the end of the stationary axle 10 are laterallyextending arms 12 between which is arranged a steering knuckle 13 whichis in the form of a cylindrical body and has fitted exteriorly thereonan annular band 14 the latter being preferably shrunk upon the body andhas detachahly fitted therein at dlametrically opposite points of thesame ivot pins 15 the same being passed througli sleeves 1G looselyengaged in the arms 12, the said sleeve 16 being held between the band14 and washers 17 supporting the said pivot pins 15, the washers beingdesigned to work against the heads 18 of the pins 15 and also workagainst the outer sides of the arms 1Q as shown.

The steering knuckle 13 further has formed thereon a supporting sleeve19 on which the hub 20 of the wheel Q2 rests, the hub being formed withan inturned annular flan e 21 adapted to overhang a portion of the odyof the knuckle 13 and this flange is provided with spoke sockets 22 inwhich are fitted thc spokes 23 of the said wheel.

Extending through the supporting sleeve 19 is a rotatable spindle Q4 theouter end of which is formed a squared portion 25 which engages acorrespondingly squared socket formed in a removable cap S26 the latterbeing provided with an annular flange 27 which is fastened at QS orotherwise secured to the outer end of the hub 20 so that upon rotationof the spindle E24 the said hub will rotate therewith. To more securelyfasten the rap E2G to the spindle Q4; there is passed "between theknucklel and hub.

f an, arm 38 to which is adapted to be 'through the said cap atransverse bolt memis a substantially semifspherical shaped boxing 30rotatably mounted within the knuckle 13 the boxing being formed with asubstantially spherical shaped ball socket 3l in which is looselyengaged a ball terminal 32 formed on the outer end of'the driving shaftll adjacent to the said spindle 24, the ball terminal being formed withdiametrically opposed outwardly extending lugs or pins 33 on which arerotatably engaged slide blocks 34 the latter movably engaged in a grooveor raceway 35 formed in the wallof the socket 31 so that the knucklel13may be turned at various angles without interfering with 'the drivingconnection between the boxing 3l and the ball terminal 32 on the drivingshaft. It will be seen that the Slide blocks 34 will move in the grooveor raceway 35 in the said socket 3l when thc knuckle 13 is angularlyfastened, and that the'psaid driving shaft 11 will be positivelyconnected with the spindle 2a for the rotation thereof.

i Mounted exteriorly on the knuckle 13 is a guard ring 3G while mountedon the inner side of the hub Q0 is a further guard ring 37 adapted toloverhang the 'guard ring 3G and thereby form a dust and dirt proofjoint Integral with and projecting from the knuckle 13 is 1votallyconnected a union rod 39 of the ordinary well known construction andthis arm 1s also suitably connected with a steer-v ing wheel (notshow-n) so that the front wheels can be turned for the guiding of thevehicle as usual.

It is of course understood that the drivin r shaft l1 is actuated in anyordinary we l known manner,- that is to say, from an engine (not shown)supported within the body of the vehicle.

Mounted in the inner side of the knuckle 13 at diametrically oppositepoints thereofl are roller bearings 39" the same engaging in a raceway40 lformed in the outer side of the boxing 30 and in this manner-thesaid boxing is presented against end thrust, that will be clearlj7apparent.

From the orvegoing,` teken in connection with the accompanying drawingsit is vnient and having a sleeve, awheel hub rotatably journaled uponsaid sleeveand ha'ving a socket receiving a portion of the knucklewhereby the hub will extend in close proximity lto the pivot connectionof the said vknuckle with the forked end, a spindle jour* naled in thesleeve and having connection with the said hub, a box integrally' formedwith the spindle and rotatably mounted within the knuckle for receivingthe ball terminal, the said boxing being provided with an externalannular groove, bearing rollers disposed in said Vgroove and workingagainst the inner wall of the knuckle, and a joint connection betweenthe boxing and the said ball terminal.

. '2. The combination with a stationary axle having a forked end, of adriving' shaft journaled in said axle and having a ball terminal; ahollow knuckle detachably pivoted in said forked end for swingingmovement and having a sleeve, a wheel hub rotatably journaled upon saidsleeve and having a socket receiving a portion of the knuckle wherebythe hub will extend in close proximity to the pivot connection of thesaid knuckle with the forked end, a spindle journaled in the sleeve andhaving connection with said hub, a box integrally formed with thespindle and rotatably mounted within the knuckle for receiving the ballterminal, the said boxing being provided with an external annulargroove, bearing rollers disposed in said groove and working against theinner wall of the knuckle, a joint connection between the boxing and thesaid ball terminal, a guard ring fixed to and surrounding the knuckle,and a guard ringlixed tothe inner side of the hub and receiving thefirst-named guard ring.

In testimony whereof I atlixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JL EVANS.

' Witnesses:

'EDWARD PETERSON, Gao. H. -HAnMoN.

